24 Aug September 25 Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

ANOTHER LETTER FROM ST. PAUL

2 Corinthians 1:1-2  “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all His holy people throughout Achaia: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Bible scholars debate with one another the number of letters St. Paul wrote.  Some say thirteen and others fourteen.  The letter to the Hebrews is the letter scholars cannot agree upon.  The words and phrases used in Hebrews sound very similar to those found in the thirteen letters we know St. Paul wrote.  On the other hand, there are portions of this letter that are not similar to his other letters.

There is little dispute regarding the authorship of the Second Letter to the Corinthians.  The heading to this letter in the New Internation Version of the Bible says, “Paul wrote this follow-up letter to the church in Corinth to tell them how pleased he was that the people were sorry for the way they had acted and that they were now trying to live the way God wanted them to. He also defended himself against the accusations being made by false teachers.”  If you remember, his first letter to this congregation was written to address a series of false teachings and immoral practices that rose up within the congregation.  Paul, like a parent correcting an erring child, had written his first letter to “straighten them out.”

Paul began the second letter with his customary greeting, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Even though he was upset with the Corinthians, even his first letter began with this same greeting. Paul trusted the heart changing power of God’s grace and knew that only through it this congregation would be restored to peace.

Paul was in Macedonia and unable to keep his promise to personally visit Corinth.  This letter would have to suffice. He wanted them to know with certainty that he rejoiced that they had repented of their misbehavior.  Since he could not visit in person, he wrote so there was certainty among the members of the Corinthian congregation that they were once again in good standing.

Prayer:  Lord, help us to rejoice when the erring repent.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love;

The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne We pour our ardent prayers;

Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, Our comforts and our cares.

We share our mutual woes, Our mutual burdens bear,

And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear.

When here our pathways part, We suffer bitter pain;

Yet one in Christ and one in heart, We hope to meet again.

From sorrow, toil, and pain, And sin we shall be free

And perfect love and friendship rei9gn Through all eternity.

(LSB 649)